Automatic filling ruling pen

ABSTRACT

A ruling pen having a pair of nibs spaced apart to define an ink channel and a screw-type adjusting device for varying the spacing of the nibs and thereby controlling the width of a line ruled by the pen. Between the nibs, a capillary duct running from an ink reservoir opens. A pin is provided to unblock the duct upon the supply of ink from the reservoir to the nibs, but thereafter closes the duct to prevent drying of ink therein.

United States Patent [191 Stryczek 1*Sept. 30, 1975 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 21,894 10/1911 United Kingdom 401/233 1,238.875 7/1960 France 401/233 285.808 9/1952 Switzerland 401/233 Primary E.\'aminer-Lawrence Charles Attorney. Agent, or FirmKarl F. Ross; Herbert Dubno [5 7 1 ABSTRACT A ruling pen having a pair of nibs spaced apart to define an ink channel and a screw-type adjusting device for varying the spacing of the nibs and thereby controlling the width of a line ruled by the pen. Between the nibs. a capillary duct running from an ink reservoir opens. A pin is provided to unblock the duct upon the supply of ink from the reservoir to the nibs. but thereafter closes the duct to prevent drying of ink therein.

1 Claim, 5 Drawing Figures U.S. Patent Sept. 30,1975

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AUTOMATIC ILLING RULING PEN l. FIELD OF THE INVENTION My present invention relates to fountain-type. ruling pens and, more particularly, to a ruling penprovided with means for introducing ink to the point thereof.

2. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A ruling pen generally comprises a pair of nibs forming a point and spaced apart by a spring system operating against the force of a screw-type device for regulating the separation of the nibs to the point and thereby adjusting the width of a line ruled by the pen. It has been proposed, in such pens, to provide a fountain or reservoir which is connected by a channel with the space between the nibs to store ink which may be gradually fed to the tip. These devices have various disadvantages including the drying of the ink in the channel.

3. OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is the principal object of the present invention to provide an improved fountain-type ruling pen which will obviate this disadvantage.

4. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION I The fountain-type ruling pen according to the present invention comprises an elongated body forming a reservoir upon which a pair of nibs are mounted and are maintained under outward spring bias tending to separate the nibs while a screw connection between the nibs is adjustable to vary their spacing at the tips, thereby controlling the width of the line ruled by the nibs. According to the present invention, a capillary channel connects the reservoir and the space between the nibs for conducting ink to the latter, while means is provided for regulating the ink flow at the end of the body remote from the nibs. In addition, a pin or needle is provided for axial movement relative to the capillary chan el and adapted to block the latter when ink feed is not required, thereby preventing the drying of ink in the capillary channel. The pin can be shifted to unblock the capillary channel for supplying ink to the space between the nibs.

5. DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the following description, reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. I is an axial cross-sectional view of a ruling pen according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but illustrating another embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a detail view of a portion of the capillary channel of yet another pen according to the invention; and

FIG. 5 is an axial cross-sectional view through a pen representing another embodiment of the invention.

6. SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION In FIGS. 1 and 2, I show an automatic-filling ruling pen consisting of a reservoir or barrel 8 adapted to receive the ink and carrying, at its lower end, a pair of nibs 1a and lb, which defined between them a flow path for the ink. A pin 16 supports nib la on the barrel. In the conventional manner, a regulator screw 2 is able to adjust the gap between the nibs and hence the width of the line ruled by the pen. The body of the pen is also formed with an axially extending bore receiving the piston 5 at the end of a needle which also serves to block a capillary channel 3a connecting the borewith the space between the nibs. The bore, in turn, communicates withthe reservoir which, at its upper end, is

formed with a plug 7 slidably receiving the pin 3. The pin is provided with a wheel 4 on its extremity emerging from the pen and within the barrel, is formed with a stop 6 preventing withdrawalof the pin from the pen. To fill the pen, one withdraws the pin 3 to-raise the piston 5 above the bore, thereby allowing ink to enter the bore from the reservoir. The wheel 4 is then pushed downwardly so that the piston 5 forces the ink through the capillary channel and to the tip, the piston thereupon blocking the capillary channel. The piston may be flexible or grooved to permit the excess ink to flow around it to the reservoir. To increase the quantity of ink supplied to the tip, it is only necessary to operate the pin a greater number of times, while lesser quantities of ink can be supplied by holding the pen more or less horizontally. The portion of the needle externally of the barrel may be provided with a scale to indicate the length of the stroke, or a scale can be provided on the wheel 4 parallel to the needle.

The pen illustrated in FIG. 3 comprises an essentially similar structure wherein identical reference numerals are directed to functionally identical structure. In this embodiment, a ring 2a anchors the screw 2 which bears inwardly upon the movable nib of the tip represented at l. The capillary channel 3d runs into a space 5a receiving the cylinder 5 with a clearance formed by axially extending ribs. In its fully withdrawn position, the pin 3 is moved upwardly until the stop 6 engages the plug 7 which is formed with a bearing pushing 7a engageable with a spring clip 4b below thewheel. In the position illustrated, ink may flow by gravity from the barrel 8 through the channels 5 to the capillary channel. When the pin 3 is fully inserted, however, it blocks the capillary channel 3d and prevents further ink flow. The spring clip 4b retains the pin in the blocking position. The plug 7 (see FIG. 5 as well) is removable to admit the ink on filling.

In the system of FIG. 4, the piston has a plastic base portion with bores 5d. The latter pennit return of the ink (arrows) upon the blocking of the capillary channel I by the pin 3. The spring 5b and the seat 5a resist the downward force upon the pin. The system of FIG. 5 differs from that of the other Figures in that the pin 3 has a cone 3a closing the capillary channel. A thread 3b, nut 3c and spring 3s act to maintain the pin in a capillary-blocking position as illustrated. The upper end of the barrel is formed with a piston 5 displaced bya screw arrangement including a long nut 12 in which the screw 11 can be rotated by its head 11!) in a ring 11a.

A pin 11d holds the assembly together. The bearing 7 has a tube 7a with a longitudinal channel 7b in which wings 12a of the nut are axially guided, but are prevented from turning. A vent 7d permits equalization of the pressure.

When the head 11b is rotated, the piston 5 pushes the ink downwardly, displacing the cone 3a at the end of the pin 3 and permitting ink to pass. Thereafter, the pin 3 blocks the bore. A small hole in needle 3a permits pulling of the latter with a wire or the like when it is desired to fill the pen at the tip end.

3 4 I claim: of ink from said reservoir to said space and a secl. A ruling pen, comprising: nd position permitting such flow; means operable Em elongated y forming a reservoir; externally of said body for actuating said pin to disa pair of nibs mounted at one end of said body in place the Same between said positions; and

spaced relationship and having respective tips de- 5 fining a pen point; means for adjusting the spacing between said tips for varying the width of a line ruled by the pen;

spring means for biasing said pin into said first position, said means for actuating said pin including a piston shiftable in said reservoir and means for dismeans forming an axially extending capillary channel Placmg Said P emg disposed at an end of Sald connecting said reservoir with the space between body remote from Sam P and bemg Spaced from said nibs f f di ink to said point; said pin in all positions of said piston, said pin exan axially hift-able pin received in aid body a d tending through the entire length of said channel.

movable between a first position blocking the flow 

1. A ruling pen, comprising: an elongated body forming a reservoir; a pair of nibs mounted at one end of said body in spaced relationship and having respective tips defining a pen point; means for adjusting the spacing between said tips for varying the width of a line rUled by the pen; means forming an axially extending capillary channel connecting said reservoir with the space between said nibs for feeding ink to said point; an axially shiftable pin received in said body and movable between a first position blocking the flow of ink from said reservoir to said space and a second position permitting such flow; means operable externally of said body for actuating said pin to displace the same between said positions; and spring means for biasing said pin into said first position, said means for actuating said pin including a piston shiftable in said reservoir and means for displacing said piston, being disposed at an end of said body remote from said pin and being spaced from said pin in all positions of said piston, said pin extending through the entire length of said channel. 